Most of the more than 75 people who jammed into Jerome’s monthly village board meeting Thursday had one question on their mind – where did the money go?

“Our water rates are up and they’ve cut back on yard waste pickup,” Beth Monnat said. “We hardly had any snow this year, but they are saying there is no money left over for snow removal. We’re trying to find out why.”

Monnat was one of more than a dozen people who spoke during the meeting. Some asked about deteriorating roads, and others wanted to know how tax revenue from local businesses was being spent.

Village President Harry Stirmell said Jerome’s total revenue was $863,000 last year and $864,000 the year before. Expenses were $1.2 million last year and $917,000 the year before, he said.

The village dipped into its reserves to cover the difference.

“There isn’t enough money coming in,” Stirmell said. “The statement issued by government forecasting is that we are in a lull again as far as the economic recovery. So we don’t anticipate getting any more money the next fiscal year, and there’s a possibility we could get less unless there are more businesses that come to Jerome. We’ve been having to play it very tight to the belt.”

The Jerome Village Board also drew a crowd last month when trustee John Giordano moved that Stirmell be removed as the trustee who oversees the police department.

The motion was connected to the fact that Stirmell’s son, Steven Stirmell, had been put on paid administrative leave from the police department. The younger Stirmell later was laid off as a budget-cutting move.

During the May meeting, Harry Stirmell said he had removed himself as the trustee overseeing the police department, and trustees never voted on Giordano’s motion.